Home India Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Amendment in EIA notification, 2006 for Pump Storage Project...
Date: 18-May-2023 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

Amendment in EIA notification, 2006 for Pump Storage Projects

Issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Division

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

What it means

  • The notification amends the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, specifically concerning the environmental clearance requirements for projects listed in notification S.O. 1533(E) dated September 14, 2006.
  • The amendment aims to streamline the environmental clearance process for Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) by categorizing certain projects as B2, irrespective of their power generation capacity, provided they meet specific criteria.
  • This change is motivated by India's commitment to low-carbon development and the increasing importance of energy storage solutions like PSPs for grid stability and renewable energy integration.

Key Changes

  • The notification modifies the schedule of S.O. 1533(E) to include specific categories for River Valley and Hydro-electric Projects (RVHEPs): RVHEPs without Pump Storage, RVHEPs with Pump Storage, and standalone Pump Storage Projects.
  • Pump Storage Projects, including off-stream closed-loop systems, will be appraised based on specific Terms of Reference issued by the Central Government.
  • Pump Storage Projects meeting all of the following criteria will be categorized as B2, regardless of power generation capacity:
  • Projects that do not require Forest Clearance or Wild Life Clearance.
  • Projects where no new reservoir is created.
  • Projects where there is no increase in the capacity or submergence area of an existing reservoir.

Impact Analysis

Developers of Pumped Storage Projects

  • Action Item: Assess planned or ongoing PSPs against the new criteria to determine eligibility for the streamlined B2 categorization.

Renewable Energy Sector

  • Action Item: Incorporate the potential for increased PSP capacity in renewable energy integration strategies and grid planning.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

  • Action Item: Ensure that the environmental impact assessments for PSPs are conducted in accordance with the revised guidelines and categorization.

Local Communities and Environment

  • Action Item: Conduct thorough environmental impact assessments, even for B2 projects, to identify and mitigate any potential adverse effects on local communities and ecosystems.

Key Entities Referenced

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central government ministry responsible for environmental protection and regulation. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: The principal legislation governing environmental protection in India. Notification S.O. 1533(E), dated September 14, 2006: The original notification outlining the requirements for prior Environmental Clearance for various projects. Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs): Energy storage systems that pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours and release it to generate electricity during peak hours. River Valley and Hydro-electric Projects (RVHEPs): Projects related to the development of river valleys and hydroelectric power generation.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 xxxGIDHxxx सी.जी.-डी.एxलx.x-GअID.-E1x8xx0 52023-245943 CG-DL-E-18052023-245943 असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii) PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii) प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 2132] नई दिल्ली, बिहस्ट्प जतवार, मई 18, 2023/विै ाख 28, 1945 No. 2132] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023/VAISAKHA 28, 1945 पर्ाावरण, वन और िलवार् ुपररवतना मत्रं ालर् अजधसचू ना नई दिल् ली,18 मई, 2023 का.आ. 2226(अ).—तत्क ालीन पर्ाावरण और वन मंत्रालर् ने पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986 (1986 का 29) की धारा 3 की उपधारा (1) और उपधारा (2) का खंड (v) द्वारा प्रित् त िजतत र्क का प्रर् ग करते एए, भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (ii) म ें का.आ. सं. 1533(अ) तारीख 14 जसतंबर, 2006, द्वारा प्रकाजित अजधसूचना िारी की ह,ै ि इसकी अनुसूची में आने वाली पररर् िनाओं के जलए पूवा पर्ाावरणीर् अनापजत् त की अपेक्षा के संबंध में ह ै; और और, कम काबान उत् सिान के मा्‍ र्म से जवकास करने की भारत की प्रजतब्धतता क ्‍ र्ान में रखते एए, जिड म ें नवीकरणीर् ऊिा ा का जनबााध एकीकरण करना तथा बेहतर जिड सुरक्षा और स्ट्थ ाजर्त् व प्रा्‍ त करना आवश् र्क ह,ै ऊिाा भंडारण की आवश् र्कता ब़ रही ह ैऔर इसके द्वारा पपं र्ुत त भंडारण संर्ंत्रक (पीएसपी) का जवकास महत् वपूणा ह ै और, पर्ाावरणीर् स्ट् वीकिजत के प्रर् िन के जलए पंप भंडारण पररर् िनाओं क िलजवद्युत पररर् िनाओं की श्रणे ी म ें माना िाता ह ै और, परंपरागत िल जवद्युत पररर् िनाओं तथा ससंचाई और िलापूर्ता पररर् िनाओं की तुलना में ऐसी पररर् िनाओं के पर्ाावरणीर् प्रभाव कम ह ते ह ैं और इसजलए पपं भंडारण पररर् िनाओं हते ु पर्ाावरणीर् स्ट् वीकिजत की प्रदिर्ा क र्ुजतत संगत बनाना आवश् र्क ह ै 3201 GI/2023 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)] और, पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) जनर्म, 1986 के जनर्म 5 के उपजनर्म (3) के खडं (घ) के साथ परित पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986 की धारा 3 की उपधारा (1) और उपधारा (2) का खडं (v) द्वारा प्रित् त िजतत र्क का प्रर् ग करते एए, प्रारुप अजधसूचना, तत्क ालीन पर्ाावरण और वन मंत्रालर् द्वारा का.आ. 1533 (अ), तारीख 14 जसतंबर, 2006 द्वारा िारी अजधसूचना का और संि धन करन े के जलए, ि भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग 2, खंड 3, उपखंड (ii) म ें का.आ. सं. 4815 (अ), तारीख 11 अत तूबर, 2022 द्वारा प्रकाजित की गई थी, जिसमें उन सभी व् र्जतत र्क से जिनके उनस े प्रभाजवत ह ने की संभावना ह,ै उस तारीख से जिसक उतत अजधसूचना क अंतर्वा्‍ करने वाले रािपत्र की प्रजतर्ां िनता क उपलब् ध करा िी गई थं, साि दिन की अवजध के भीतर आक्षेप और सुझाव आमंजत्रत दकए गए थे; उतत प्रारूप अजधसूचना के उत् तर म ेंप्रा्‍ त आक्षेपक और सुझावक पर कें्ीर् सरकार द्वारा जवचार कर जलर्ा गर्ा ह;ै अत:, अब, कें्ीर् सरकार, पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) जनर्म, 1986 के जनर्म 5 के उपजनर्म (3) के खंड (घ) के साथ परित पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986 की धारा 3 की उपधारा (1) और उपधारा (2) के खंड (v) द्वारा प्रित् त िजतत र्क का प्रर् ग करत े एए, भारत सरकार के तत्क ालीन पर्ाावरण और वन मंत्रालर् की अजधसूचना सं‍ र्ांक का.आ.1533 (अ) तारीख 14 जसतंबर, 2006 का जनम्न जलजखत और संि धन करती ह,ै अथाता ् :- उतत अजधसूचना की अनुसूची में, मि 1(ग) के सामन,े (1) स्ट्त ंभ (2) म,ें ि.सं. (i) और उससे संबंजधत प्रजवजिर्क के स्ट् थान पर जनम्नजलजखत िमसं‍ र्ाकं और प्रजवज्‍ र्ां रखी िाएंगी, अथाात:्- “(i) निी घा ी और िल-जवद्युत पररर् िनाए ं (आरवीएचईपी):- (क) आरवीएचईपी जबना पपं भडं ारण पररर् िना; (ख) आरवीएचईपी पंप भडं ारण सजहत पररर् िना; (ग) स्ट् ैंडअल न पंप भंडारण पररर् िना; ” (2) स्ट् तंभ (5) म,ें ि.सं. (iii) और उससे संबंजधत प्रजवजिर्क के पश्चात, जनम्नजलजखत अंतस्ट्थाजपत दकर्ा िाएगा, अथाात्:- “(iv) पंप भंडारण पररर् िनाएं, जिनके अंतगात अपत ीर् बंि लूप भी ह,ैं कें्ीर् सरकार द्वारा पंप भडं ारण पररर् िनाओं के जलए िारी जवजि्‍ जनिेि- जनबंधन पर आधाररत हकगी ऐसी पंप भंडारण पररर् िनाओं का मूल्र्ांकन ि नीच े जवजनर्ि्‍ा सभी मानिंडक क परू ा करेंगी, क जवद्युत उत्पािन क्षमता पर जवचार दकए जबना बी 2 श्रणे ी के रुप में दकर्ा िाएगा:- (क) ऐसी पररर् िनाएं जिनके जलए वन स्ट्वीकिजत और/र्ा वन् र् िीव स्ट्वीकिजत अपेजक्षत नहं ह,ै (ख) ऐसी पररर् िनाएं जिनम ेंक ई नर्ा िलािर् नहं बनार्ा गर्ा ह;ै (ग) ऐसी पररर् िनाएं जिनमें जवद्यमान िलािर् की क्षमता और िलािर् के िलमग्न क्षेत्र में क ई विज्धत नहं ह ै [फा. सं. आईए3-22/33/2022-आईए.III] डा. सुिीत कुमार बािपेर्ी, संर्ुत त सजचव र ्‍प णी : मलू अजधसूचना, भारत के रािपत्र, म ें का.आ. सं. 1533(अ) तारीख 14 जसतंबर, 2006 द्वारा प्रकाजित की गई थी और अजधसूचना सं‍ र्ा का.आ. 3194 (अ), तारीख 14 िलु ाई, 2022 द्वारा अंजतम बार संि जधत की गई[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 18th May, 2023 S.O. 2226(E).—WHEREAS, the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forest, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection ) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) has issued notification vide number S.O. 1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), regarding requirement of prior Environmental Clearance for the Projects covered in its Schedule; And, whereas, in view of commitment for low-carbon pathway of development, it is necessary to have a smooth integration of renewable energy in the grid and to have greater grid safety and stability, there is growing need for energy storage and thereby the development of Pumped Storage Projects is critical. And, whereas, Pump Storage Projects are considered in the category of hydropower Projects, for the purpose of Environmental Clearance. And, whereas, the environmental impacts of such Projects are less as compared to classical hydro Projects as well as irrigation and water supply Projects and therefore there is a need to rationalise Environmental Clearance process for Pump Storage Projects. And whereas, a draft notification for making further amendments in the notification of the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forest issued, vide S.O 1533(E) dated the 14th September, 2006 in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, read with clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section(ii), vide number S.O. 4815(E) dated the 11th October, 2022, inviting objections or suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby, within a period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing the said draft notification were made available to the Public; And, whereas, the objections and suggestions received in response to the said draft notification have been considered by the Central Government; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendments in the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, number S.O.1533(E) dated the 14th September, 2006, namely:- In the said notification, in the schedule, against item 1 (c), - (1) in column (2), for serial number (i) and entries relating thereto, the following shall be substituted, namely:- “(i) River Valley and hydro-electric Projects (RVHEPs): - (a) RVHEPs without Pump Storage Projects; (b) RVHEPs with Pump Storage Projects; (c) standalone Pump Storage Projects.” (2) in column (5), after serial number (iii) and entries relating thereto, the following shall be inserted, namely:- “(iv) Pump Storage Projects including off-stream closed loop shall be appraised based on specific Terms of Reference issued by the Central Government for Pump Storage Projects. The Pump Storage Projects which meet all the criteria specified below shall be appraised as B2 category irrespective of power generation capacity:- (a) Projects which do not attract Forest Clearance and/or Wild Life Clearance, (b) Projects wherein no new Reservoir is created (c) The Projects wherein there is no increase in capacity of the existing reservoir and in submergence area of reservoir.” [F. No. IA3-22/33/2022-IA.III] DR. SUJIT KUMAR BAJPAYEE, Jt. Secy. Note : The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, vide number S.O. 1533(E), dated the 14th September, 2006 and was last amended, vide notification number S.O.3194(E), dated the 14th July, 2022. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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